Onegin (1999)

Director:

Martha Fiennes

Writers:

Peter Ettedgui (screenplay)
Alexander Pushkin (poem) ...

Release Date:

5 February 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

In the opulent St. Petersburg of the Empire period, Eugene Onegin is a jaded but dashing aristocrat - a man often lacking in empathy...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Friend | Dancing | Coffin | Uncle Nephew Relationship

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Ralph Fiennes	...	Onegin
Liv Tyler	...	Tatyana
Toby Stephens	...	Lensky
Lena Headey	...	Olga
Martin Donovan	...	Prince Nikitin
Alun Armstrong	...	Zaretsky
Simon McBurney	...	Triquet
Harriet Walter	...	Madame Larina
Jason Watkins	...	Guillot
Irene Worth	...	Princess Alina
Gwenllian Davies	...	Anisia
Margery Withers	...	Nanya
Geoffrey McGivern	...	Andrey Petrovitch
Tim McMullan	...	Dandy 1
Tim Potter	...	Dandy 2

Also Known As:

Eugene Onegin (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for brief violence and a sexual image.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | USA:R | South Korea:18 | Brazil:Livre | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | New Zealand:M | Spain:7 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Alresford, Hampshire, England, UK

Company:

7 Arts International

Trivia:

The director, Martha Fiennes, is the sister of star Ralph Fiennes. The composer is Magnus Fiennes, Ralph's brother. Sophie Fiennes, another sister of his, also appears in the credits.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Ortodox Tatiana's Naming Day is January 26, but it is summertime in the movie.

Quotes:

Tatyana Larina: [writing letter] Dearest Evgeny, I write to you, it is all I can do. And now I know it is in your power to punish my presuming heart. Yet if you have one drop of pity, you'll not abandon me to my unhappy fate. I am in love with you and I must tell you this or my heart...

Movie Connections:

Version of "Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD: Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin (#1.4)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Mandshurian Kummut

It's a Pushkin poem; what more can you ask for?

Excellent film!!! I was captivated by it, however, my wife fell asleep during the film. For those who enjoy Russian literature, this movie will captivate you; for those who have no exposure to it, it will not. So your preestablished experience will determine to a great extent your appreciation of this film.

The lead acting is superb! Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler are so good that they unfortunately show up everybody else. The setting, however, does not have much of a Russian feel to it, what with everybody trying to act French and all, which is very accurate to the time. (Thank *you* Peter the Great.)

As for the story, the movie is very faithful to the Pushkinian attitude. The story is very character-centred, typical to Russian lit. The change in Evgenyi Onegin (pronounced, "Yev-geh-ny Ah-nye-gin") is marked indeed. However, the character of Tatyana captivated me. Her faithfulness to herself and to her integrity, especially given the context of American film, is amazing. How refreshing to see a character turn down the opportunity to have an affair with the man she loves deeply out of loyalty and faithfulness to her husband whom she unfortunately doesn't really love. This is especially refreshing in light of prevailing attitudes towards marriage and in particular adultery. Liv Tyler portrays both the deep angst and yet the firm conviction of Tatyana beautifully.

I recommend this film heartily. I gave it a 10 in my rating, and I encourage anyone to view this film to escape the prevailing American Bruce Willis-type formula film, and allow this film to expand your perceptions and your mind, and to enjoy the challenge of seeing people grow, and thereby encourage yourself to do the same.